Cooking apparatus



\ K B ET COOKING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 12, 1965 9 Sheets-Sheet l5 J. w. DOUGLB R. SCOTT THEIR ATTORNEYS Jam. 6, WW W. K. BODY ETAL3,487,825

COOKING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 12. 1965 9 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTORS gbLLIAM EODYSUO HA%%E% W. ICE DOUGLAS RSCOTT Mia? THEIRATTORNEYS Emma 6, 17% BODY E'I'AL 3,487,82

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INVEN"" as w: IAM K. 508v RU '35 J. ooAsao ICE DOUGLAS R. SCO TT THEIRATTORNEYS L A n Y D O B m w COOKING APPARATUS 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 6 U 0 d N1 1 1 W 0 1 0 1m, 1 I H 1 W //m 3 w w Z W 1 f I J H J W 1 W 1 1 w 6 4 yW. B a 6 85 .n 7 N1 a a W w 4 7\ o 1 4 mu 6 4 7 "man ATTORNEYS Emma 39%)BODY ETAL COOKING APPARATUS 9 Sheets-Shem 5 Original Filed Feb. 12, 1965INVEN ORS WILLIAM K. BODY RUSSELL .Jkmgmsfilo HAROLD W, lb DOUGLASRSQOTT THEIR ATTGRNfiYS wh m Em W. K. @m ETA!- COOKING APPARATUSOriginal Filed Feb. 12, 1965 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 3mm EW BODY ETAL h 000mmAPPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 12. 1965 9 Sheets-Sheet '7 hm 9 17 BODYETAL COOKING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 12. 1965 9 Sheets-Sheet B 434M 3 4,6 494 I E w; /x 46 mvsw-roRs m ssxscm HA 0|. w. ICE I DOUGLAS a.5001' W. K. BODY ETAL COOKING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 12. 1965 9Sheets- Sheet 9 r "I n3 M? w I :32 7 f INVENTORS w 'erus- HA wikl g oouLAS R SCOTT THEIR AT'Y'ORNEV United States Patent 3,487,825 COOKINGAPPARATUS William K. Body, Whittier, Russell J. Locascio and Harold W.Rice, Fullerton, and Douglas R. Scott, Santa Ana, Calif., assignors toRobertshaw Controls Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of DelawareOriginal application Feb. 12, 1965, Ser. No. 432,228. Divided and thisapplication Dec. 18, 1967, Ser. No. 714,137

Int. Cl. F24c 3/00 US. Cl. 126-39 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREThis disclosure relates to pneumatic control means utilized to controlthe operation of a cooking apparatus, whether the cooking apparatus hasan oven, or a range type burner, or both, such pneumatic control meanscomprising pneumatic actuators for controlling the flow of fuel to theburner means as well as for latching the oven door means in its closedposition for oven cleaning operations, adjusting the burner means tovarious positions thereof and automatically controlling a cookingoperation thereof, such features being utilized singly or in anycombination thereof.

This application is a divisional patent application of its co-pendingparent application, Ser. No. 432,228, now Patent No. 3,384,071, filedFeb. 12, 1965, and is assigned to the same assignee to whom the parentapplication is assigned.

This invention relates to a cooking apparatus or the like havingimproved means for controlling the operation of the burner means andother parts thereof in a manner hereinafter described.

In particular, this invention provides means wherein the variousoperating parts of a cooking apparatus or the like are adapted to bepneumatically controlled in a unique and novel manner to provide animproved cooking apparatus.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedcooking apparatus or the like having one or more of the novel featuresof this invention as set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved methods ofcontrolling such cooking apparatus or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved parts for such acooking apparatus or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from areading of this description which proceeds with reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating one type of cookingapparatus to which the various features of this invention areapplicable.

FIGURE 2 is a schematic front view illustrating one embodiment of theoven of the cooking apparatus of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view illustratingone embodiment of the vacuum regulator of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 and illustrates anotherembodiment for the cooking apparatus of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating one embodimentof this invention for controlling the temperature in the oven of thecooking apparatus of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a schematic side view illustrating another embodiment ofthis invention for varying the position of the oven casing of theembodiment of the cooking apparatus of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a schematic, fragmentary side view illustrating anembodiment of this invention for varying the position of the burnermeans in the cooking apparatus of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary rear view of the structure illustrated inFIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 and illustrates anotherembodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 10 is a schematic view illustrating one method for controllingthe operation of the oven of the cooking apparatus of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 11 is a schematic view illustrating another embodiment of thisinvention for controlling the temperature of the oven of the cookingapparatus of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 12 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 1212 of FIGURE 11.

FIGURE 13 is a view similar to FIGURE 11 and illustrates anotheremobodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 14 is a schematic side view illustrating a vent control for theoven of the cooking apparatus of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 15 is a view similar to FIGURE 14 and illustrates a humiditycontrol for the oven of the cooking apparatus of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary side view illustrating one means for latchingthe oven door of the cooking apparatus of FIGURE 1 in its closedposition.

FIGURE 17 is a view similar to FIGURE 16 and illustrates anotherembodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 18 is a view similar to FIGURE 17 and illustrates anotherembodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 19 is a front view of the control knob of the structureillustrated in FIGURE 18.

FIGURE 20 is a view similar to FIGURE 17 and illustrates anotherembodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 21 is a view similar to FIGURE 16 and illustrates anotherembodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 22 is a fragmentary schematic view illustrating one means of thisinvention for controlling a rotisserie in the oven of the cookingapparatus of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 23 is a view similar to FIGURE 22 and illusstrates anotherembodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 24 is a schematic view illustrating one embodiment of theinvention for controlling the top burner means of the cooking apparatusof FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 25 is a bottom view of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 24.

FIGURE 26 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view illustrating anotherembodiment of this invention for controlling the top burner means of thecooking apparatus of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 27 is a fragmentary perspective view of the top surface of thecooking apparatus of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 28 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2828 of FIGURE 27.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter describedand illustrated as being particularly adaptable for a cooking apparatusof one general type, it is to be understood that the various features ofthis invention can be utilized singly or in any combination thereof withother cooking apparatus or other devices as desired.

Further, while this invention is hereinafter described in connectionwith vacuum operated devices, it is to be understood that this inventioncan be utilized with pressure operated devices or the like.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodimentsillustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized toillustrate some of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, an improved cooking apparatus of thisinvention is generally indicated by the reference numeral and comprisesa frame or casing structure 31 housing one or more cooking ovens 32 andone or more top burner units 33 each constructed in a manner hereinafterdescribed.

For example, reference is made to FIGURE 2 wherein one of the ovens 32is defined by a casing 34 having a plurality of radiant type gas burners34 pivotally mounted to the casing 34 or structure 31 by pivot pins 35,each burner means 34' having a lever arm 36 extending beyond its pivotpoint and being pivotally secured to a movable wall 37 of a flexiblebellows 38 by a pivot pin 39 for a purpose hereinafter described.

If desired, stops or rests 34A can be utilized to support the burners34' in their horizontal positions and drip deflector 34B can be utilizedtherewith.

Each bellows 38 has a wall 40 fixed to stationary frame means 41. Eachbellows 38 has a compression spring 42 disposed therein and continuallytending to urge its respective burner means 34 about its pivot pin 35 toassume the position illustrated in dotted lines in FIGURE 2 whereby theburners means 34' in their dotted line positions will provide normalbaking means for the oven casing 34.

However, when it is desired to utilize a rotisserie 43 in the ovencasing 34, means are provided to impose vacuum conditions in the bellows38 to cause the burner means 34 to pivot toward each other in the mannerillustrated by full lines in FIGURE 2 to provide means for cooking meat44 and the like rotated therebetween by the rotisserie 43 in aconventional manner, a suitable drip pan 45 being provided for suchrotisserie cooking.

In particular, a vacuum pump 46 is provided and is interconnected to theinterior of the bellows 38 by con-' duit means 47, the conduit meanshaving a vacuum regulator 48 disposed therein whereby the degree ofvacuum imposed on the bellows constructions 38 can be controlled byproperly positioning the control knob 49 of the regulator 48.

In this manner, the amount of total movement of the burner means 34 fromtheir dotted line positions toward the rotisserie 43 can be controlledby the regulator 48 so that the spacing between the burner means 34' canbe readily controlled.

Since the vacuum regulator 48 will impose a constant selected vacuumcondition on the bellows constructions 38 to tend to move the Walls 37thereof toward the fixed walls 40 in opposition to the force of thecompression springs 42, the burner means 34' will be held in the desiredpivoted positions thereof by the regulated vacuum in the bellowsconstructions 38.

While the vacuum regulator 48 can be of any suitable structure, oneembodiment thereof is illustrated in FIG- URE 3 and will now bedescribed.

As illustrated in FIGURE 3, the regulator 48 includes a housing means 50having two parts 50A and 50B and having two chambers 51 and 52 formedtherein and divided by a flexible diaphragm 53 having a plurality ofbleed orifices 54 formed therein and interconnecting the chamber 51 withthe chamber 52, the chamber 51 being suitably interconnected to theatmosphere by opening 51A while the chamber 52 is sealed therefrom.

A conduit 55 extends into the chamber 52 and has an upper end 56normally spaced from the diaphragm 53 because of the resultant influenceof springs 63 and 56C, the conduit 55 being interconnected to the vacuumsource 46. A vent hole closing member 56' is normally urged by spring56C against the diaphragm 53 to close the vent orifices 54 from thechamber 52, the member 56' having an opening 56A therein bigger than theoutside diameter of the end 56 of the conduit 55.

The chamber 52 is also interconnected to the desired vacuum operateddevice by a conduit 57. Therefore, as long as the diaphragm 53 remainsin the position illustrated in FIGURE 3, the greatest degree of vacuumis imposed in the conduit 57 because the vacuum source 46 is fullyinterconnected to the conduit 57 and the member 56' closes the ventports 54.

Therefore, in order to regulate the degree of vacuum in the chamber 52and, thus, in the conduit 57, means are provided for tending to resistthe natural movement of the diaphragm 53.

In particular, a threaded adjusting member 58 is mounted in a threadedbore 59 of the housing means 50 and carries the control knob 49 on oneend thereof. The other end 60 of the adjusting screw 58 engages a collarmeans 61 in a manner to provide relative movement therebetween.

Another collar means or retainer 62 is disposed below the retainer 61and is separated therefrom by a compression spring 63 whereby thecompression spring 63 tends to urge the retainer 62 into engagement withthe diaphragm 53 and tends to move the same downwardly in FIGURE 3, theforce of the compression spring 63 being varied by the position of thethreaded fastening member 58 relative to the housing means 50.

Therefore, it can be seen that the force of the compression spring 63adds to the force of the air pressure in the chamber 51 to tend to movethe diaphragm 53 downwardly in FIGURE 3 to cover the end 56 of thevacuum source conduit 55 whereby further movement of the diaphragm 53downwardly causes the same to flex on the end 56 of the conduit 55 sothat the closing member 56 will be moved away from the openings 54. Inthis manner the degree of vacuum in the chamber 52 will becorrespondingly reduced, the greater the force of the compression spring63 urging the retainer 62 downwardly, the lower the degree of vacuumbeing imposed in the chamber 52.

Thus, should the degree of vacuum in the chamber 52 exceed that set bythe knob 49, the combined force of the compression spring 63 and the airpressure acting downwardly on the diaphragm 53 will cause the diaphragm53 to close the end 56 of the conduit 55 until suflicient air has bledinto the chamber 52 through the apertures 54 to return the diaphragm 53to a position to just cover the end 56 of the vacuum conduit 55 and havethe sealing member 56 close the openings 54 whereby a stabilizedcondition will exist in the chamber 52.

Accordingly, it can readily be seen that by utilizing the regulator 48of FIGURE 3 in the system illustrated in FIGURE 2, the spacing betweenthe burner means 34' can be effectively regulated by the regulator 48 inthe manner previously described.

For further description of the operation and details of the regulator48, see the United States Patent No. 3,142,-

966, entitled Vacuum Servo System and the Like.

Another embodiment for controlling the burner means of one of the ovens32 of the cooking apparatus 30 of FIGURE 1 is illustrated in FIGURE 4and comprises an oven casing 64 having a pair of movable burner means 65respectively having flame spreaders 66 attached thereto, each burnermeans 65 being movable about a pivot pin 67 fixed to the casing 64 orthe casing 31 as desired and being interconnected to a gas source byflexible gas connectors 65A.

Each burner means 65 is adapted to be disposed in the full line positionillustrated in FIGURE 4 to provide a dual burner conventional bakingmeans for the oven 64.

However, the burner means 65 are adapted to be pivoted to the dottedline positions illustrated in FIGURE 4 by pneumatic means in a mannerhereinafter described to provide means to broil food 68 disposed betweena pair of vertically disposed grills 69, the grills 69 being adapted tobe normally disposed below the burners 65 and be moved to the verticalposition illustrated in FIGURE 4 by pneumatic means as desired.

In particular, each burner means 65 has a lever 70 extending beyond thepivot point 67 thereof and interconnected to a piston rod 71interconnected to a piston 72 of a piston and cylinder arrangement 73,the piston 72 normally being urged to the full line position by acompression spring 73 disposed in the cylinder defining member However,when a vacuum is imposed in the cylinder 74, the piston 72 is drawndownwardly in FIGURE 4 to cause the respective burner means 65 to pivot90 to its dotted line position in opposition to the force of thecompression spring 73 so that the particular burner means 65 can beutilized for broiling purposes.

For example, a suitable control device 75 can be provided tointerconnect the source of vacuum 46 to a conduit means 76 leading tothe cylinders 74 when a control knob 77 is disposed in a broil positionthereof to cause the burner means 65 to move to their dotted linepositions and remain therein as long as the control knob 77 is in itsbroil position. However, when the control knob 77 is moved to its bakeposition, the vacuum source 46 is disconnected from the cylinders 74 sothat the cylinders 74 can return to normal atmospheric conditionswhereby the force of the compression springs 73' return the burner means65 to their full line positions for baking purposes.

In addition, the control device 75 can include a control knob 78 whichwill control the position of the grills or grids 69.

In addition, the control device 75 can include a temperature controlknob 79 for controlling the temperature in the oven casing 64 in amanner now to be described.

As illustrated in FIGURE 5, the control knob 79 forms part of a vacuumregulator 80 formed in a manner similar to the regulator 48 previouslydescribed whereby like parts of the regulators '80 and 48 will beindicated by like ref erence numerals.

As illustrated in FIGURE 5, the control knob 79 is interconnected to oneend of an adjusting screw 81 having a socket 82 at the other end thereofand receiving a ball end 83 of an expansible and contractible element 84whereby the ball end 83 of the element 84 is fixed relative to thehousing means 50 in any one adjusted position of the adjusting member81.

The other end 85 of the element 84 is operatively interconnected to theretainer 61. The interior of the expansible element 84 is interconnectedto a temperature sensing bulb 86 by a conduit means 87 whereby theexpansible element 84 will expand upon an increase of temperature sensedby the bulb 86 and will collapse upon a decrease of temperature sensedby the bulb 86, the bulb 86 being suitably mounted in the oven or thelike.

Therefore, it can be seen that in the regulator 80, the vacuum conditioncreated in the vacuum chamber 52 will be in relation to the temperaturesensed by the temperature sensing bulb 86, the temperature range of thebulb 86 being controlled by the 'knob 79.

The outlet conduit 57 of the regulator 80 is interconnected to apneumatic actuator 88 being defined by a housing member 89 having aflexible diaphragm 90 cooperating therewith to define a chamber 91, thediaphargm 90 normally being urged downwardly in FIGURE 5 by acompression spring 92 disposed in the chamber 91.

A valve means 93 is disposed in the fuel supply system to one of theburner means 65 and comprises a housing 94 having an inlet 95 and anoutlet 96 interconnected to gether by a valve seat 97, the valve seat 97being opened and closed by a valve member 98 interconnected to thediaphragm 90 by suitable means 99.

Thus, when the regulator 80 is not imposing any vacuum in the chamber 52thereof, the chamber 91 of the actuator 88 for each burner means 65 isat atmospheric condition whereby the compression spring 92 holds therespective valve member 98 against the seat 97 to prevent the flow offuel to the burner means 65.

However, when the regulator 80 interconnects the vacuum source to thechamber 52, the chambers 91 of the actuators 88 are evacuated to thedegree set by the control knob 79 whereby fuel is adapted to flow to theburners 65.

However, when the temperature in the oven casing 64 reaches thetemperature selected by the knob 79, the expansible element 84 hasexpanded to such a degree that the same causes the retainer 61 to movedownwardly, thereby compressing spring 63, which tends to push item 62down against the diaphragm 53, pushing vent closing member 56' down andthe resulting deflection of the diaphragm 53 opens a passage throughapertures 54 permitting air to enter chamber 57 thereby reducing thevacuum in actuator 88. The degree of opening of valve 93 is therebyreduced to reduce the heat output of the burners to maintain thetemperature in compartment 64 at the setting of dial 79. In this manner,the supply of fuel to the burner means 65 is temporarily terminated orreduced until the sensing bulb 86 senses a temperature in the ovencasing 64 below the selected temperature whereby the element 84 hascollapsed to such a degree that the diaphragm 53 permits the chamber 52to return to a vacuum condition which will open the valve members 98 inopposition to the force of the compression springs 92.

Thus, it can be seen that the regulator is adapted to regulate thetemperature in the oven casing 64 by varying the degree of vacuumimposed on the actuators 88 in the manner previously described.

While the valve means 93 have been illustrated with a direct connectionbetween the valve members 98 and the diaphragms 90, it is to beunderstood that a snap action structure could be utilized therein toopen the valve members 98 with a snap action when a desired vacuumcondition exists in the chamber 91 whereby further opening of the valvemembers 98 is controlled in a throttling manner by the regulator 80.

Referring now to FIGURE 6, another oven casing 100 of this invention isprovided for one of the oven sections 32 of the cooking apparatus 30 ofFIGURE 1, the oven casing 100 being vertically movable by pneumaticmeans in a manner hereinafter described relative to a stationary burnermeans 101.

In particular, when the oven casing 100 is disposed in the positionillustrated in full lines in FIGURE 6, the oven casing 100 can beutilized for baking purposes as the burner means 101 is in a lowerposition therein. However, when the oven casing 100 is moved to thedotted line position illustrated in FIGURE 6, it can be seen that theoven casing 100 can be utilized for broiling purposes as the burnermeans 101 will be disposed at the top thereof.

The oven casing 100 can be counterbalanced by a suitable negator springmeans 102 so that movement between its upper and lower positions can bereadily effected by pneumatic means now to be described.

In particular, a plurality of telescoping tubular members 103 areprovided with the end 104 thereof being interconnected to a bracket 105interconnected to the oven casing 100. The tubular members 103 aredisposed in their untelescoped positions by suitable compression springsdisposed therein whereby the oven casing 100 is normally disposed in thefull line position illustrated in FIGURE 6. However, when it is desiredto utilize the casing 100 for broiling purposes, the vacuum source 46 isinterconnected to a conduit means 106 leading to the interior of thetelescoping members 103 through a control device 107 whereby the tubularmembers 103 will be drawn into their telescoping positions illustratedin dotted lines in FIGURE 6 to move the oven casing 100 from its fullline position to its dotted line position, the control device 107 havinga suitable control knob 108 for interconnecting the vacuum source 46 tothe conduit 106.

Instead of moving the oven casing relative to the burner means toprovide for baking and broiling purposes, it is to be understood thatthe burner means could be moved relative to the oven casing for suchpurpose.

In particular, reference is made to FIGURES 7 and 8 wherein another ovencasing of this invention is indicated by the reference numeral 109 andhas a vertical slot 109A passing therethrough through which a suitableburner means 110 can project and be disposed in the interior of the ovencasing 109. A pair of tracks 111 are disposed against the outside wallof the casing 109 and respectively receive guide rollers 112 which areintercon nected to the burner 110 by bracket means 113. A large negatorspring 114 is attached to the oven casing 109 at the top thereof and isinterconnected to the burner means 110 in the manner illustrated inFIGURE 8 to not only act as a counterbalancing means therefor withupward bias but also to at least partially seal closed the slot 109A inthe oven casing 109 when the burner means 110 is disposed in bakeposition in the oven casing 109 to prevent heat loss through such slot.A cable 115 or the like is interconnected to the burner 110 and isadapted to be wound up or unwound on a suitable pulley 116 by a negatorspring 117 interconnected to a movable wall 118 of a bellowsconstruction 119 having or not having a compression spring 120 disposedtherein, the pulley 116 being fixed on a shaft 116A rotatably mounted toa fixed wall and the negator spring 117 having one end fixed to theshaft 116A. When the interior of the bellows construction 119 isinterconnected to the atmosphere, the combination of the negator springs114, 117 and compression spring 120 permits the pulley 116 to be unwoundand the burner means 110 to be moved upwardly to its broil position inthe oven casing 109. However, when a vacuum is imposed in the interiorof the bellows construction 119, the same moves the movable wall 118downwardly to wind up the pulley 116 and pull the burner means 110downwardly to its bake position in the oven casing 109, the burner means110 being held in that position as long as the bellows construction 119is evacuated.

If desired, latching means could be provided to hold the burner means110 in its selected position.

Another means for moving a burner means relative to the oven casing toprovide broiling or baking functions therefor is illustrated in FIGURE 9wherein a burner means 121 projects through a slot in the oven casing122 and is movable vertically upwardly and downwardly therein bypneumatic means 119 in the manner similar to that provided in theembodiment of FIGURES 7 and 8. However, in place of rollers on theburner means 121, a pair of negator springs 123 are respectivelyinterconnected to bracket means 124 of the burner means 121 and fixed tothe casing wall 122 at 125. A central roller 126- spans the slot in thecasing wall 122 and engages against the interior surface thereof toguide vertical movement of the burner means 121.

Thus, when atmospheric conditions exist in the bellows construction 119the burner means 121 is raised to the upper position in the oven casing122 by the negator springs 123 whereby the burner means 121 providesbroiling means for the oven.

However, when a vacuum is imposed in the bellows construction 119, theburner means 121 is moved vertically downwardly to a lower position inthe oven casing 122 for baking purposes.

One means for automatically controlling the cooking operation of eitherthe burner means of the ovens of the cooking apparatus 30 or the burnermeans for the top surface thereof is illustrated schematically in FIGUREwherein a vacuum regulator 127 is provided and is formed substantiallyin the same manner as the vacuum regulator 80 previously describedexcept that in place of the adjusting screw 81 thereof, a plunger 128 isprovided to vary the position of the movable wall 83 of the expansibleelement 84.

The degree of movement of the plunger 128 is adapted to be controlled bya card 129 or the like having a contoured edge 130 movable past theplunger 128 in a manner now to be described.

In particular, the card 129 has a plurality of aligned perforations 131provided therein and engageable by a sprocket wheel 132 adapted to berotated by a timer motor 133. The timer motor 133 has an outwardlydirected shaft structure 134 interconnected to the sprocket 132 andcarries a guide member 135 against which the straight side 136 of thecard 129 abuts. In this manner, the particular card 129 can be disposedin its most left position whereby the plunger 128 will bear against theportion 137 of the contoured side 130 of the card 129 and will cause theregulator 127 to not direct any fuel to the burner means until theplunger 128 rides down into the portion 138 of the card 129 whereby theburner means will cook at the desired temperature controlled by the card129. When the portion 139 of the card 129 bears against the plunger 128,the temperature effect produced by the burner means will be reduced to anon-cooking but warming temperature to hold the food at a palatabletemperature without further cooking thereof.

Thus, it can be seen that cards 129 can be provided for the housewife orthe like to cook desired products in an automatic manner whereby thehousewife can place the card 129 on the guide means 135 and turn on thetimer motor 133 whereby the same will turn on the burner means at adesired time interval therefrom and cook the same for a predeterminedlength of time whereby the temperature effect of the burner means willbe subsequent ly reduced to a non-cooking but warming holdingtemperature.

In order to vary the condition produced by a particular card 129, theshaft means 134 can have an adjustment means 140 provided thereinwhereby the guide means 135 can be moved toward or away from theregulator 127 to c1l;a9nge the particular temperature controlled by thecard Another system of this invention for automatically controlling thecooking in an oven or the like and generally indicated by the referencenumeral 141 in FIGURE 11 will now be described.

As illustrated in FIGURE 11, an oven casing 142 is provided and hassuitable burner means 143, the burner means 143 being adapted to besupplied fuel from a fuel source conduit 143 passing through a valvemeans 93 previously described. The valve means 93 is adapted to becontrolled by an actuator 88 previously described.

Instead of utilizing the regulator 80 previously described for operatingthe actuator 88 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 5, another regulator144 is provided and parts thereof similar to the regulator 80 areindicated by like reference numerals.

The regulator 144, in place of the adjusting member 81 previouslydescribed, has a bellows construction 145 provided with a fixed end 146attached to the housing means 50 and a movable end 147 attached to theexpansible element 84, the bellows 145 normally being urged to a novacuum position by a compression spring 148.

Thus, it can be seen that the regulator 144 is adapted to control thetemperature in the oven casing 142 depending upon the setting of thebellows construction 145 in a manner hereinafter described.

The interior of the bellows construction 145 is adapted to beinterconnected to a conduit means 149 having branch conduits 150 and 151respectively leading to the regulated vacuum conduits 57 of regulators152 and 153 formed in substantially the same manner as the regulator 48previously described. However, the vacuum supply conduits 55 of theregulators 152 and 153 are respectively interconnected to ports 154 and155 of a reading head 156 by conduits 157 and 158, Ports 159 and 160 areformed in the reading head 156 and are respectively interconnected tothe vacuum source 46 by a conduit means 161, the con duit means 161being interconnected to the conduit 55 of the regulator 144 for apurpose hereinafter described.

A flexible reading tape 162 is adapted to be moved relative to thereading surface 163 of the reading head 156 by means of a timer motor164 driving a sprocket 1'65 receivable in perforations 166 in the tapemember 162.

The tape member 162 has two rows 167 and 168 of communicating blisters169 which are adapted to bridge various ports in the reading head 156 inthe manner hereinafter described.

In addition, the tape 163 has two rows 170 and 171 of apertures 172passing therethrough for a purpose hereinafter described.

The operation of the system 141 will now be described.

Assuming that the housewife or the like has selected a particular tape162 illustrated in the drawings, the housewife places the tape 162 inthe control device of the cooking apparatus 30 in such a manner that theleading edge 173 of the tape 162 has been threaded sufficiently past thesprocket 165 so that upon subsequent actuation of the timer motor 164,the timer motor 164 will progressively move the tape 162 from left toright at a constant speed.

Before turning on the timer motor 164, the housewife adjusts the knob 49of the regulator 153 to select the desired cooking temperature for theoven 142. The housewife also adjusts the knob 49' on the regulator 152to set the warming or holding temperature of the oven 142, the regulator152 controlling the temperature of the oven 142 so that the same will beat a non-cooking but warming temperature.

Thereafter, the timer motor 164 is energized so as to drive the tape 162from left to right with a constant speed whereby it can be seen that therow 167 of blisters 169 begins to pass over and bridge the ports 155 and160 of the reading head 156 so that the vacuum source 46 isinterconnected to the regulator 153 whereby the vacuum created in theconduit 151 leading to the regulator 144 adjusts the bellows 145 so thatthe vacuum being supplied to the actuator 88 in the regulator 144 willcause the valve means 93 to maintain the temperature in the oven 142 atthe cooking temperature selected by the knob 49.

Simultaneously, the row 170 of apertures 172 passes over the port 154 inthe reading head 156 so as to prevent interconnection of the vacuumsource 46 to the regulator 152, the branch conduits 150 and 151 havingone way check valves disposed therein so as to prevent the flow of airthrough the conduit 157 and regulator 152 when the apertures 172 arealigned with the ports 154 in the reading head 156.

Thus, it can be seen that as long as the row 167 of blisters 169 arecontinuously bridging the ports 155 and 160, the regulator 144 willmaintain the temperature in the oven 142 at a cooking temperatureseelcted by the knob 49 of the regulator 153.

However, when the row 168 of blisters 169 begins to bridge the ports 154and 159 of the reading head 156, it can be seen that the regulator 152will impose a different vacuum condition on the bellows 145 to adjustthe regulator 144 to maintain the temperature in the oven 142 at anon-cooking but warming temperature, the vacuum source to the regulator153 being terminated as the row 171 of apertures 172 is now aligned withthe port 155 whereby air cannot flow into the conduit 149 through theregulator 153 because of the one way check valve in the branch conduit151.

Accordingly, it can be seen that the system 141 illustrated in FIGURE 11is readily adaptable to provide means wherein food or the like can beautomatically cooked in the oven 142 at the selected cooking temperaturefor a predetermined length of time and, thereafter, be merely warmed bythe oven 142 for a predetermined length of time by means of theregulators 152, 153 and 144 in the manner previously described.

Another system for controlling the cooking conditions of an oven isgenerally indicated by the reference 10 numeral 174 in FIGURE 13 and isutilized to provide means whereby food can be cooked in an oven for apredetermined length of time at a cooking temperature and, thereafter,be warmed in the oven at a non-cooking and holding temperature.

In particular, the system 174 illustrated in FIGURE 13 includes thevalve means 93 and actuator 88 for controlling the flow of fuel to theburner means (not shown) of an oven in relation to the degree of vacuumbeing imposed in the chamber 91 of the actuator 88, the chamber 91 ofthe actuator 88 being interconnected to the vacuum source 46 by aconduit means 175 having a Lear limiting orifice 175 provided therein.The conduit 175 is also interconnected to a bleed orifice 177 which hasthe Open thereof controlled by a, flapper-type valve member The valvemember 178 has one end 179 pivotally mounted by a pivot pin 180 to a rod181 fixed to a movable wall 182 of a pneumatic bellows 183.

The lever 178 is adapted to be fulcrumed on a fulcrum point 184 of amovable wall 185 of an expansible and contractable element 186 havingthe interior thereof interconnected to a temperature sensing bulb 187 bya conduit 188, the temperature sensing bulb 187 being disposed in theoven for sensing the temperature thereof.

The wall 189 of the bellows 183 is fixed to a frame means 190 whereby acompression spring 191 disposed between the frame means 190 and abracket portion 192 of the rod means 181 tends to normally urge thepivoted end 179 of the lever 178 to the right in FIGURE 13 to cause theother end 193 of the lever 178 to move away from the bleed orifice 177so that the vacuum imposed in the chamber 91 of the actuator 88 will beat a minimum and cause the valve means 93 to close.

The interior of the bellows 183 is controlled by a reg ulator 194, theregulator 194 being substantially the same as the regulator 48previously described whereby like reference numerals will be utilized toindicate like parts.

However, the regulator 194, in place of the retainer 61, has a pivotallymounted lever 195 pivoted to the housing 50 by pivot means 196, thecompression spring 63 being disposed between the lever 195 and theretainer 62 previously described.

The free end 197 of the lever 195 is adapted to be engaged by a cam 198rotated about an axis 199 by a suitable timer motor (not shown).

The cam 198 is so constructed and arranged that the same is adapted toregulate the position of the diaphragm 53 in such a manner that theregulator 194 will cause a vacuum condition in the bellows 183 toposition the flapper valve member 178 so that the bleed orifice 177 willpermit the actuator 88 to open the valve means 93 and provide fuel tothe burner means of the oven at the particular setting of the lever 195,the overshooting of the temperature of the oven being controlled by theexpansible element 186 whereby the burner means of the oven will cookthe food at the desired temperature as controlled by the cam 198 for apredetermined length of time.

Thereafter, the cam 198 has been rotated to such a position that itpermits adjustment of the lever 195 to reduce the degree of vacuum inthe chamber of the bellows 183 so that the flapper valve 178 will causethe valve means 93 to throttle down the flow of fuel to the burner meansso that the burner means will only maintain the oven at a non-cookingand warming temperature during the remainder of the time that the cam198 rotates,

Therefore, it can be seen that the system 174 of this invention operatesin a manner similar to the system 141 previously described to provideautomatic means for controlling an oven to cook food at a desiredcooking temperature for a predetermined length of time and, thereafter,causing the oven to keep the cooked food at a warming and non-cookingtemperature.

If desired, the force of the bellows 18 3 can be utilized to repositionnozzle 177 rather than the pivot of flapper 178. Also, a bias springcould be utilized to apply a compressive load to bellows 186.

Another feature of this invention is to provide means for controllingthe vent opening for an oven of the cooking apparatus 30.

In particular, reference is made to FIGURE 14 of the drawings wherein anoven casing 200 is provided and has a door 201 for opening and closingthe casing 200 in a conventional manner. However, the casing 200 has avent opening 201 passing through the rear wall 202 thereof, the opening201 adapted to be opened and closed by a valve member or damper 203pivoted to the Wall 202 by pivot means 204.

The valve member 203 has an arm 205 interconnected to a rod 206 fixed toa flexible diaphragm 207 dividing a casing 208 into two chambers 209 and210.

A compression spring 211 is disposed in the chamber 210 between thecasing 208 and the diaphragm 207 tend ing to urge the diaphragm upwardlyin the drawings so as to normally close the vent opening 201.

However, the chamber 209 of the casing 208 is interconnected to the fuelsupply manifold 212 of the burner means 213 for the oven 200 by aconduit means 214, the conduit means 214 having a Lear limiting orifice215 disposed therein.

The operation oft he oven 200 will now be described.

When fuel is supplied to the burner means 213 of the oven 200 by thevalve means 93 being opened by the actuator 88 in the manner previouslydescribed the pressure of the fuel in the supply manifold 212 is imposedin the chamber 209 and acts against the diaphragm 207 to tend to movethe same downwardly in opposition to the force of the compression spring211 to move the valve member 203 to an open position substantiallyproportional to the gas pressure in the burner manifold 212.

For example, it is known that gas flow rate will vary as the square rootof the manifold pressure whereby a linear relationship between thedamper opening 201 and manifold pressure will provide relatively lessvent area with respect to gas rate at low pressure than at highpressure.

Accordingly, it can be seen that the amount of opening provided by thevalve member 203 is proportional to the gas pressure in the manifold212.

Means are provided by this invention for controlling the moisture in theoven of the cooking apparatus 30 of FIGURE 1.

In particular, reference is made to FIGURE 15 wherein an oven casing 216is provided and has a door 217 for opening and closing the same, theoven 216 having the vent means 201, 203 of FIGURE 14 if desired.

A coil of tubing 218 is disposed in the oven 216 and has the outlet 219thereof interconnected to a conduit 220 leading to a drain. The inlet221 of the tubing 218 is interconnected to a conduit 222 which, in turn,is interconnected respectively to a conduit 223 and to a conduit 224,the conduit 223 being interconnected to a source of hot water and theconduit 224 being interconnected to a source of cold water.

Each conduit 223 and 224 has a valve means 93 disposed therein with thevalve member 98 being controlled by the pneumatic actuator 88 in themanner previously described for the embodiment of FIGURE 5.

However, the vacuum source 46 which is adapted to be interconnected tothe chambers 91 of the actuators 88 must first pass through branchconduits 225 and 226 respectively having valve means 93 therein.

The valve means 93 and the conduits 225 and 226 have the valve members98 thereof interconnected together by means 227 controlled by a solenoidoperated device 228. Thus, when the valve member 98 of the valve means93 in the conduit 226 is disposed in an open position, the valve member98 of the valve means 93 in the conduit 225 is disposed in a closedposition and vice versa.

A humidity sensor 229 is disposed in the oven 216 and is adapted tocontrol an electrical switch 230A in power lead L by cable means 230.The humidity sensor 229 is adapted to send an electrical signal througha cable 231 to the solenoid 228 for a purpose hereinafter described. Ifdesired, the power source L and L can be interconnected to an electricalheater 232 disposed around the conduit 223 downstream from the valvemember 93 thereof to provide further heating of the water flowingthrough the conduit 223 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The coil tubing 218 is disposed in a suitable sump 233 in the oven 216,the sump 233 having an outlet 234 interconnected to a drain conduit 235to prevent overflowing of the sump 233.

The operation of the system illustrated in FIGURE 15 will now bedescribed.

Assuming that the humidity sensor 229 of the oven 216 determines thatmoisture should be removed from the oven 216, the sensor 229 through thesolenoid 228 causes the valve member 98 of the valve means 93 in theconduit 226 to open so that the vacuum source 46 can be interconnectedto the actuator 88 of the valve means 93 in the conduit 224 to open thevalve member 98 thereof.

With the conduit 224 now open, cold water is adapted to flow through thecoil 218 in the oven 216 to condense the moisture out of the air in theoven 216 so that the moisture will remain in the sump 233 and eventuallyspill over into the outlet 234.

Conversely, should the humidity sensor 229 require that more moisture bepresent in the oven 216, the solenoid 228 is actuated to close the valvemember 98 of the conduit 226 and to open the valve member 98 of theconduit 225 so that the valve member 98 of the valve means 93 in theconduit 223 will be open whereby hot water will be supplied to the coil218 and heat the water in the sump 233 to evaporate the same and supplymoisture in the air of the oven 216.

Thus, it can be seen that the humidity sensor 229 is adapted to maintainthe humidity in the oven 216 at the proper level.

If desired, water can be added to the sump 233 so as to maintain a waterlevel therein by means of a float valve located outside the oven. Adiaphragm actuator, controlled by the oven thermostat, could overridethe float valve to prevent the addition of water unless the thermostator other device called for Water.

Further, the system illustrated in FIGURE 15 could be utilized forchemical cleaning operations, if desired.

It may be desired to have the ovens in the cooking apparatus 30 of thisinvention be of the type so that the same can be automatically cleanedby raising the temperature thereof to around 800 F. or the like.However, in such burn-off oven cleaning periods, it is necessary topositively lock the oven doors in their closed positions during theelevated temperature operation.

Accordingly, some of the features of this invention are to provide suchautomatic latching means. For example, reference is made to FIGURE 16Wherein an oven casing 236 is provided and has a pivotally mounted door237 for opening and closing the same. The door 237 has a slot 238provided therein which defines a latching shoulder strike bar 239,

A latch member 240 is pivotally mounted to the casing 236 by a pivot pin241, the latch member 240 having a latching end 242 receivable in theslot 238 and having opposed camming surfaces 243 and 244 cooperable withthe shoulder 239 in a manner hereinafter described.

The latch member 240 is continuously urged in a counterclockwiselatching direction by a tension spring 245 having one end 246 attachedto the latch member 240 on the right side of the pivot pin 241 andanother end 248 attached to the stationary casing 31.

However, even through the latch member 240 is biased to its latchingposition, the door 237 can be opened by pivoting the latch around itshinge point 241 where 13 by the shoulder 239 will act against the camsurface 244 and cam the latch member 240 is a clockwise direction topermit the latching end 2.42 to clear the shoulder 239.

Thus, the latch member 240 normally acts as a means to hold the door 237in its closed position whereby the door 237 can be opened by overcomingthe force of the tension spring 245.

A bimetal member 250 is mounted to the casing 236 at a point 251 wherebythe free end 252 of the bimetal member 250 is free to move relative tothe casing 236, the end 252 being receivable in a slot or notch 253 ofthe latch member 240 when the bimetal member 250 senses a temperatureabove a safe temperature for the opening of the door 237. For example,such temperature can be 575" F. and above.

Thus, it can be seen that when the temperature of the over 236 exceeds575 F. or the like, the end 252 of the bimetal member 250 is moved intothe notch 253 of the latch memer 240 whereby the same holds the latchmember 240 in its latching position so that the door 237 cannot beopened until the bimetal member 250 has cooled sufliciently to clear thenotch 253.

Accordingly, it can be seen that automatic latching means for the oven236 is provided in FIGURE 16.

Another system of this invention for automatically locking the oven doorin its closed position at elevated temperatures, such as temperaturesfor burn-01f cleaning thereof, is generally indicated by the referencenumeral 254 in FIGURE 17.

As illustrated in FIGURE 17, an oven casing 255 is provided and has adoor 256 hinged thereto at 257 for opening and closing the oven casing255. A latch member 258 is provided and is pivoted to the casing 255 bypivot pin means 259, the latch member 258 normally being urged to itsunlatched position by a leaf type spring 260.

The latch member 258 is formed of two parts 261 and 262 hinged togetherby pivot pin means 263 and normally held in aligned relation by a spring264.

The portion 262 of the latch member 258 has a latching hook 265 adaptedto be received in a slot 266 of the oven door 256 and be pulled behind astrike bar 267 in opposition to the force of the spring means 260 in amanner hereinafter described to latch the door 256 in its closedposition. However, the strike bar 267 is movable relative to the door256 so that the same could be moved out of the way of the hook end 265of the latch member 258 in an emergency operation to open the door 256.Thereafter, should it be desired to reclose the door with the member 258in its latching position, the front portion 262 of the latch member 258can cam against the strike bar 267 and cause the portion 262 to pivotabout the point 263 to clear the strike :bar 267 and, thereafter, bymeans of the spring 264 move back into its latching position.

In addition, the latch member 258 has an arm 269 provided with a notch270 which is adapted to receive a free end 271 of a bimetal latch member272 when the temperature in the oven 255 exceeds approximately 575 F.

Thus, the bimetal 272 will hold the latch member 258 in its latchingposition as long as the temperature in the oven 255 is above 500.

The means for moving the latch member 258 to its latching position inopposition to the force of the spring 260 will now be described.

The control device 273 for controlling the temperature of the oven 255includes a housing 274 provided with a splined bore 275 receiving anaxially movable retainer 276 splined in the bore 275, the retainer 276having a threaded bore 277' receiving a threaded adjusting member 277.The threaded adjusting member 277 carries a control knob 278 on one endthereof and has the other end 279 thereof receivable in a recess 280 ofa retainer 281 attached to one wall 282 of an expansible andcontractible element 283 which has the interior thereof interconnectedto a sensing bulb 284 disposed in the oven 255 by a conduit 285.

The movable wall or portion 286 of the expansible element 283 is adaptedto bear against a flapper valve member 287 pivoted to the housing 274 bya pivot pin 288 whereby the free end 289 of the lever 287 is adapted tobe pivotally moved relative to a bleed orifice 290 in a conduit 291, thelever 287 being urged to a position to close the bleed orifice 290 by acompression spring 292.

The burner means (not shown) for the oven 255 is adapted to be fed fuelthrough a conduit 293 leading to a valve means 294 having a cock valve295 disposed therein to interconnect the conduit 293 to an inlet chamber296 of the valve means 294. The inlet chamber 296 of the valve means 294is interconnected to an outlet chamber 297 by a valve seat 298, theoutlet chamber 297 being interconnected to the burner means by a conduit299. The valve seat 298 is adapted to be opened and closed by a valvemember 300 carried on a flexible diaphragm 301 normally urged to itsvalve seat closing position by a compression spring 302, the diaphragm301 cooperating with a casing 303 to define a chamber 304.

The chamber 304 is adapted to be interconnected to the vacuum source 46by a conduit means 305 having a Lear limiting orifice 306 therein, theconduit 305 also being interconnected to the conduit 291 previously described.

The axially slidable member 276 of the control device 273 is normallyurged to the right by a compression spring 307. A collar 276A which islocked onto member 276 by a set screw holds the member 276 in the fullline position illustrated in FIGURE 17 against movement urged by spring307. The control knob 2.78 is disposed behind a flange 308 of thehousing 274.. However, when the control knob 278 is turned to atemperature of 600 F. or above, the knob 278 can be pulled leftwardly byhaving a slot means 309 thereof clear the flange 308 whereby theslidable member 276 can be moved to the left and be latched in itspulled out position by a latch member 310 being received in a notch 311thereof. The latch member 310 is normally urged to its unlatchingposition by a compression spring 311 and is pivotally interconnected toa lever 312 by a pivot pin 313. The lever 312 is pivotally mounted tothe housing 274 by a pivot pin 314.

Another lever 315 is pivotally mounted to the housing 274 by a pivot pin316. The lever 315 is interconnected to the lever 312 by a tying means31.7 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The lever 315 carries a pair of plungers 318 and 319 respectivelyreceived in bores 320 and 321 of a housing 322. The plungers 318 and 319are urged downwardly by compression springs 323 and 324. The lever 315has the end 324 thereof continuously urged in a counterclockwisedirection by a tension spring 326. With the lever 315 being biased bythe spring 326, the plunger 318 is so constructed and arranged that itcloses a ball valve 327 against a valve seat 328 to preventinterconnection between a conduit 329 and a conduit 330, the conduit 329being interconnected to the conduit 305 and the conduit 330 beinginterconnected to a chamber 331 of an actuator 332 including a housing333 and a flexible diaphragm 334 normally urged downwardly by acompression spring 335. The flexible diaphragm 334 of the actuator 332is interconnected to the latch member 258 by a tying means 336 having atension spring 337 therein for a purpose hereinafter described.

With the lever 315 disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURE 17 bythe spring means 376, the plunger 319 permits a ball valve 338 to beunseated from a valve seat 339 to interconnect together a branch conduit340 and a conduit 341, the branch conduit 34.0 being interconnected tothe conduit 330 and the conduit 341 being interconnected to theatmosphere whereby when the lever 315 is disposed in the positionillustrated in FIGURE 17, the chamber 333 of the actuator 332 isinterconnected to the atmosphere and the force of the springs 335 and260 is suflicient to move the latch member 258 to its unlatchingposition for normal cooking in the oven 255.

The conduit 291 is interconnected by a branch conduit 342 to a chamber343 of an actuator 344 comprising a housing 345 and a flexible diaphragm346, the flexible diaphragm 346 being interconnected to the lever 312 bya means 347.

The operation of the system 254 illustrated in FIG- URE 17 will now bedescribed.

With the gas cock valve 295 disposed in the open position, the operatorof the system 254 moves the control knob 278 to the desired temperaturesetting for the oven 255 whereby the parts of the system will bedisposed in the position illustrated in FIGURE 17 with the latch member258 being held in its open position by the spring 260 as the chamber 331of the actuator 332 is intercom nected to the atmosphere through theopen ball valve 338. However, the vacuum created in the chamber 304 ofthe valve means 294 causes the valve member 300 to move to the openposition thereof so that the source of fuel can flow to the burner meansfor the oven 255, the amount of opening of the valve member 300 beingdependent upon the position of the flapper valve 287 relative to thebleed orifice 290 whereby the normal operation of the oven 255 iscontrolled by the temperature sensing bulb 284 expanding and contractingthe element 283 in relation to the temperature sense so that thetemperature in the oven 255 will remain at the selected temperature asselected by the knob 278.

However, when it is desired to clean the oven 255 by elevating thetemperature thereof above 600", the operator turns the knob 278 to thehigh temperature setting thereof whereby the knob 278 can be puleld tothe left and slide the retainer 276 to a position wherein the latchmember 310 can be received in the notch 311 thereof, the latch member310 being urged upwardly by having the chamber 343 of the actuator 344evacuated as the same is interconnected to the conduit 291 by the branchconduit 342. With the latch member 310 moved to its up position to bereceived in the notch 311 of the sliding member 276, the lever 312 ispivoted in a clockwise direction about the pivot point 314 to pull theend 325 of the lever 315 upwardly in a clockwise direction about thepivot point 316 whereby the ball valve 338 is moved against the valveseat 339 and the ball valve 327 is adapted to open the valve seat 328.With the ball valve 338 disposed in its closed position, the atmosphereis disconnected from the chamber 331 of the actuator 332 and the vacuumsource 46 is interconnected thereto by the opened valve seat 328 wherebythe latch member 258 is pulled upwardly by the actuator 332 into itslatching position for the door 256.

Thus, it can be seen that when the slidable member 276 is moved to theleft, the temperature control element 283 is also moved to the lefttherewith whereby the valve member 287 can close the bleed orifice 290to provide for continuous opening of the valve means 294 to providesufficient heat in the oven 255 for cleaning thereof. Further, it can beseen that when the temperature of the oven 255 exceeds 500 F. or thelike, the bimetal member 272 has the end 271 thereof received in thenotch 270 of the arm 269 of the latch member 258 to hold the latchmember 258 in its latching position until the temperature of the ovenfalls below 500 F. or the like.

The termination of the cleaning (burn-off) period is automatic. Inparticular when the temperature sensed by the bulb 284 has increased toa preselected value for which the bulb 284, expansible bellows 283 andflapper valve 287 have calibrated the expansion of the bellows 283 willlift flapper 287 off the bleed orifice 290 reducing the vacuum inactuator 344 allowing spring 311 to with draw latCh member 310 fromnotch 311. Member 276 16 then moves to the right until collar 276A bearsagainst the mating face of member 274 thus returning the setting of thethermostat to approximately 575 F. and moving the dial 278 to the rightso that the dial 278 can be turned to the off position or to anyintermediate temperature setting available on the temperature controldevice.

When the latch member 310 moves downwardly, it pivots the lever 312 in acounterclockwise direction about the pivot point 314 so that the lever315 can also pivot in a counterclockwise direction to return the ballvalve 327 against its valve seat 328 and open the valve seat 339 so thatatmosphere can return to the actuator 332 and permit the latch member258 to return to its unlatching position by the force of the spring whenthe end 271 of the bimetal member 272 moves out of the notch 270 thereofwhen the temperature of the oven is below 500 F. or the like.

Therefore, it can be seen that the system 254 of this invention providesimproved means for providing normal cooking in the oven 255 as well asmeans for burn-off cleaning thereof with safety features holding thedoor 256 in its closed position during the elevated temperatures of theoven 255.

Another system of this invention for automatically controlling thelatching of an oven door in its closed position during burn-off cleaningthereof is generally indicated by the reference numeral 348 in FIGURES18 and 19 and will now be described.

As illustrated in FIGURE 18, an oven casing 349 iS provided and has adoor 350 for opening and closing the same, the door being pivoted to thecasing 349 by pivot means 351.

A latch member 352 is provided and is pivoted to the casing 349 by apivot pin 353, the latch member 352 having a hook-shaped end 354receivable in a slot 355 of the door 350 and being adapted to be movedbehind a strike bar 356 of the door 350 to latch the same in a closedposition in a manner hereinafter described. The latch member 352 isnormally urged to the unlatched position thereof by, a leaf type spring357.

The latch member 352 is adapted to be moved to its latching position bya pneumatic actuator 358 comprising a housing 359 and a flexiblediaphragm 360 cooperating with the housing 359 to define a chamber 361therebetween, the flexible diaphragm 360 being interconnected to thelever 352 by means 362 having a tension Spring 363 therein. The spring363 is properly calibrated to work in cooperation with the movement ofdiaphragm 360 and leaf spring 357.

The oven 349 is provided with a conventional temperature selecting knob364 which will control the temperature of the oven 349 in any of themanners previously described or the like. However, the knob 364 has aflange portion 365 projecting therefrom which will abut against a pushbutton 366 when the knob 364 is moved to a temperature setting thereofof approximately 600 F. whereby the knob 364 cannot be turned to an ovencleanoff temperature without having the push button 366 first pushedinwardly in the manner illustrated in FIG- URE 18.

The push button 366 is receivable in a bore 367 of a housing 368 and isnormally urged to its out position by a compression spring 369. The pushbutton 366 is interconnected by substantially rigid means 370 to a lever371 pivoted to the housing 368 by a pivot pin 372. The lever 371 isnormally urged in a clockwise manner about the pivot point 372 by atension spring 373. The lever 371 is interconnected to a pair ofplungers 374 and 375 receivable in bores 376 and 377 of a housing 378and normally urged in a direction to the right by compression springs379 and 380. However, with the lever 371 disposed in the positionillustrated in FIG- URE 18 whereby the push button 366 is in its outposition, the plunger 375 closes a ball valve 381 against a valve seat382 to prevent interconnection between a con- 1 7 duit 383 and a conduit384, the conduit 383 being interconnected to the vacuum source 46 whilethe conduit 384 is interconnected to the chamber 361 of the actuator358.

With the push button 356 in its out position, the plunger 374 permitsthe ball valve 385 to open a valve seat 386 to interconnect a branchconduit 387 to a conduit 388, the branch conduit 387 beinginterconnected to the conduit 384 and the conduit 388 beinginterconnected to the atmosphere.

The operation of the system 348 illustrated in FIG- URES 18 and 19 willnow be described.

As long as the control knob 364 is disposed in the normal cookingtemperature range positions thereof, the plunger 366 is in its outposition as illustrated in FIG- URE 18 whereby the ball valve 385 is inits open position and the ball valve 381 is in its closed position sothat the atmosphere is interconnected to the chamber 361 of the actuator358 and permits the latch member 352 to be disposed in its unlatchingposition whereby the door 350 of the oven 349 can be opened and closedas desired.

However, when the operator desires to clean the oven 349 by creating anelevated temperature therein, the operator pushes in on the button 366so that the control knob 364 can be rotated to a temperature above 600F. With inward movement of the plunger 366, the flange 365 of thecontrol knob 364 clears the same and holds the plunger 366 in its inposition. In particular, when button 366 is depressed, the control knob364 can be rotated to the burn-off position thereof and when in thisposition, the flange 365 will hold button 366 depressed.

With the plunger 366 moved to its in position, the lever 371 is pivotedin a counterclockwise direction about its pivot point 372 in oppositionto the force of the tension spring 373 whereby the ball valve 385 seatsagainst the valve seat 386 and the ball valve 381 opens the valve seat382. In this manner, the vacuum source 46 is now interconnected to thechamber 361 of the actuator 358 whereby the diaphragm 360 moves upwardlyand pulls the latch member 352 into its latching position in oppositionto the force of the spring 357 whereby the oven door 350 is held in itslatched position by the latch member 352 as long as the control knob 364is disposed in a temperature setting position above 600 F.

If desired, the latch member 352 can be held in its latching position bya bimetal member 272 in the manner previously described for the system254 of FIGURE 17.

In order to provide means for delaying the unlocking of the safety latchon the oven door until the oven temperature has fallen to a safetemperature, the system 389 illustrated in FIGURE 20 can be utilizedwherein parts similar to the system 254 are indicated by like referencenumerals.

As illustrated in FIGURE 20, a oven casing 390 is provided and has adoor 391 for-opening and closing the same, the door 391 being pivoted tothe casing by a hinge means 392. v

A latch member 393 is pivotally mounted to the casing 390 by a pivot pin394 and is normally urged to the unlatching position by a leafspring'395, the latch member 393 having a hook-shaped end 396 receivablein a slot 397 of the door 391 and movable behind a strike bar 398thereof when the latch member 393 is pivoted in a clockwise direction byan actuator 399.

The actuator 399 is similar to the actuator 332 of FIG- URE 17 andcomprises a housing 400 and a flexible diaphragm 401 cooperatingtherewith to define a chamber 402 therebetween adapted to beinterconnected to a vac uum source by a conduit 403 when it is desiredto clean the oven 390 by an elevated temperature therein. The diaphragm401 of the actuator 399 is interconnected to the lever 393 by means 404having a tension spring 405 therein.

Therefore, it can be seen that the door 391 of the oven 390 is adaptedto be latched in .its closed position by the latch member 393 when thechamber 402 of the actuator 399 is evacuated in any of the mannerspreviously described.

However, any safety latch operated and held only by vacuum signal,controlled only by the vacuum signal to the burner, unlatches the dooras the burner is turned off at the end of a timer controlled interval.

The device shown in FIGURE 20 will keep the oven door 391 latched afterthe burner is turned off at the conclusion of the heating period andunlatch it at the lower oven temperature for which the device iscalibrated.

For example, a casing 406 is provided and has a snap action member 407therein which is controlled by an expansible and contractible element408 in a conventional manner for snap acting switch means. The interiorof the bellows of the element 408 is interconnected to a temperaturesensing bulb 409 by a conduit 410, the bulb being adapted to sense thetemperature in the over 390.

The snap action member 407 of the housing 406 is adapted to slide avalve member 411 having a recess for selectively interconnecting line412 to line 413 or line 413 to line 414. Line 412 leads to the vacuumsource 46 of FIGURE 17 while line 413 leads to one side of the ballvalve 339 of FIGURE 16, line 414 leading to the atmosphere.

When the system is turned to the oven bum-off position thereof, the ballvalve 328 opens and interconnects the vacuum source 46 to the actuator399 to latch the door 391 in its closed position.

When the temperature of the oven exceeds a safe limit, the bellows 408has expanded to such a degree that the snap member 407 moves the valvemember 411 to bridge the lines 412 and 413.

Thus should the main burner be turned off whereby the ball valve 328will close the ball valve 339 will be opened, the device 406 keeps theactuator 399 evacuated, and, thus, in its door latched position untilthe temperature of the oven falls below the safe limit whereby thebellows collapses sufiiciently to cause the snap member 407 to move thevalve 411 to interconnect the lines 413 and 414. Thus, the actuator isnow interconnected to the atmosphere whereby the latch member 393 canmove to its unlatching position.

Another burn-01f oven cleaning system of this invention is generallyindicated by the reference numeral 415 in FIGURE 21 and comprises anoven casing 416 having a door 417 hinged thereto by hinge means 418. Thedoor means 417 is adapted to be latched in its closed position by alatch member 240 in the same manner as provided in the embodimentillustrated in FIGURE 16.

The oven 416 is provided with a gas burner means 419 interconnected to agas manifold or fuel supply means 420 by a conduit 421, the conduit 421having three valve means 422, 423 and 424 therein downstream from themanifold 420 with the valve means 422, 423 and 424 being substantiallyidentical to the valve means 93 previously described or the valve means294 previously described.

In any event, the valve means 422, 423 and 424 have pneumatic actuators88 for opening and closing the valve members therof. However, the valvemeans 422 and 424 are normally closed valve means whereby a pneumaticvacuum signal is required to open the valve members thereof whereas thevalve member 423 is a normally open valve means and requires a vacuumsignal to the actuator 88 thereof to close the same.

A source of vacuum 46 is interconnected to the actuator 88 to the valvemeans 422 by a conduit 425, the conduit 425 having program controlledvalve means 426 disposed therein for interconnecting the source ofvacuum 46 to the actuator 88 when the program means 426 is in a properposition thereof.

A branch conduit 427 is interconnected to the conduit 425 and leads tothe actuator 88 of the valve means 424. However, a solenoid operatedvalve member 428 is disposed in the line 427 and will not interconnectthe vacuum source 46 with the actuator 88 of the valve means 424 unlessa temperature sensing bulb 429 senses that a flame 430 exists at thepilot burner 431, the pilot burner being supplied fuel from a manifold420 by the conduit means 432. Alternately, the bulb 429 could controlthe valve means 428 by fluid pressure, if desired.

A housing 433 is connected to the oven casing 416 and has a valve seat434 opened and closed by the end 435 of a rod 436 disposed in athermostat tube 437 and interconnected to the end 438 thereof. The valveseat 434 of the housing 433 interconnects a conduit 439 with a conduit440, the conduit 439 leading to the conduit 425 and the conduit 440leading to the actuator 88 of the valve means 423.

A switch housing 441 is carried by the casing 416 and has a passage 442interconnected to the atmosphere by passage means 443 by means of avalve seat 444. The valve seat 444 is adapted to be opened and closed bya valve member 445 having a stern 446 adapted to be engaged by the door417 when in the closed position, the door 4.17 when in the closedposition engaging against the plunger 446 to close the valve member 445against the valve seat 444 in opposition to the force of the compressionspring 447. The passage 442 of the housing 441 is interconnected to theconduit 425 by a conduit 448.

The operation of the system 415 of this invention will now be described.

When it is desired to clean the oven 416, the door 417 is moved to itsclosed position wherein the latch member 240 holds the door 417 in itsclosed position. The operator then turns a manual control knob 449 toposition the programmer 426 in the proper position to interconnect thevacuum source 46 to the conduit 425, the program member 426interconnecting the vacuum source 46 to the conduit 425 during a periodof time determined by a timer motor 450.

Since the door 417 is in its closed position, the valve member 445 isagainst the valve seat 444 whereby the conduit 448 is not interconnectedto the atmosphere so that the vacuum source 46 can actuate the actuators88 of the valve means 422 and 424 to interconnect the source of fuel 420to the burner means 419, the valve means 424 only being opened it aflame 430 exists at the pilot burner 431 in view of the valve means 428.Thus, the burner means 419 is operating to elevate the temperature ofthe oven 416 to burn off the foreign particles therein. However, if thetemperature of the oven 416 exceds a predetermined temperature, the tube437 has expanded to such an extent that it carries the rod 436 therewithto open the valve seat 434 whereby the vacuum source 46 isinterconnected to the actuator 88 of the valve means 423 and closes thesame to terminate the supply of fuel to the burner means 4.19 until thetemperature of the oven 416 falls below the predetermined temperaturewhereby the valve means 423 is again opened by means of the thermostaticmeans 436, 437.

Therefore, it can be seen that by the sequential opening and closing ofthe valve seat 434 by means of the temperature sensing means 437, 436,the temperature in the oven 416 will be maintained at a selectedelevated temperature for proper burn-off cleaning thereof.

After the programmer 426 has been turned to the proper position by thetimer motor 450, the source of vacuum 46 is disconnected from theconduit 425 whereby can be seen that the valve seat 444 will be openedwhereby atmosphere will be permitted to enter the conduit 425 toautomatically turn off the valve means 423 and 424.

One feature of this invention is to provide an improved system foroperating a rotisserie in one of the oven portions of the cookingapparatus 30 of this invention. I

For example, reference is made to FIGURE 22 wherein a rotisserie 451 ismounted in the oven casing 452, the oven casing 452 having suitableburner means 453 and 454 mounted therein.

The rotisserie 451 is adapted to rotate about its longitudinal axis andis interconnected to a lever 455 pivotally mounted to a shaft 456 by apivot pin 457. The shaft 456 is in turn pivotally mounted by a pivot pin458 to a link 459 pivotally mounted by a pivot pin 460 to a movable Wall461 of a bellows construction 462. The other end 463 of the bellows 462is fixed to a stationary housing 464 and has a compression spring 465disposed therein normally tending to hold the rotisserie 451 in therotational position illustrated in FIGURE 22.

However, the interior of the bellows construction 462 is interconnectedto a conduit 466 having a programmer 467 therein to sequentiallyinterconnect the vacuum source 46 to the conduit 466, the conduit 466having a bleed conduit 468 interconnected thereto.

Thus, each time the programmer 467 interconnects the vacuum source 46 tothe conduit 466, the bellows construction 462 collapses whereby themovable wall 461 moves toward the fixed wall 463 in opposition to theforce of the compression spring 465 to partially rotate the rotisserie451 in a counterclockwise direction whereby the meat 469' or the likemounted on the rotisserie 451 will be moved relative to the burner means453 and 454. However, when the programmer 467 disconnects the vacuumsource 46 from the conduit 466, atmosphere is adapted to return to thebellows construction 462 by means of the bleed passage 468 whereby thespring 465 expands the bellows construction 462 and causes therotisserie 45.1 to move back to the position illustrated in FIGURE 22.

Thus, by sequentially interconnecting and disconnecting the vacuumsource 46 from the bellows construction 462, the meat 469' is movedrelative to the burner means 453 and 454 with a flip-flop motion.

Another means for rotating the rotisserie of one of the ovens of thisinvention is set forth in FIGURE 23 wherein a rotisserie 469 is mountedin an oven casing 470, the rotisserie 469 being adapted to becontinuously rotated in one direction or oscillated by an electric motor471, the electric motor 471 being adapted to receive electrical currentfrom power leads L and L However, the lead L has a movable switch blade472 provided therein which is adapted to close the lead L when theswitch blade 472 is moved to make contact with the contact 473.

The switch blade 472 is adapted to be moved between its closed and openpositions by a pneumatic actuator 474 comprising a housing 475 and aflexible diaphragm 476 cooperating therewith to define a chamber 477.The flexible diaphragm 476 is interconnected to the switch blade 472 bylinkage means 478 and is normally urged to a switch blade open positionby a compression spring 479 disposed in the chamber 477 in the actuator474.

A vacuum source 46 is adapted to be interconnected to the chamber 477 ofthe actuator 474 upon opening of a valve means 480 whereby when thevacuum source 46 is interconnected to the chamber 477 of the actuator474, the diaphragm 476 is moved to the left to close the switch blade472 against the contact 473 so that the electric motor 471 can drive therotisserie 469 continuously in one direction or oscillate the samedepending upon the particular motor 471 being utilized.

When the means 480 disconnects the vacuum source 46 from the actuator474, the diaphragm 476 returns to the right under the influence of thecompression spring 479 whereby the switch blade 472 is moved to an openposition thereof to terminate the operation of the motor 471.

It is to be understood that other pneumatic means can be utilized tooperate the rotisserie. For example, steppers, bellows operated ratchet,etc., can be utilized.

Referring now to FIGURES 24 and 25, an improved system 481 of thisinvention is provided for controlling the top burner means 33 of thecooking apparatus 30 of FIGURE 1.

In particular, the system 481 includes a burner manifold 482 mounted tothe frame means 31 and being fluidly interconnected to a pair of burnerportions 483 respectively pivotally mounted to the manifold 482 in anysuitable manner.

The burner portions 483 respectively have depending flange-like portions484 interconnected together by a tension spring 485 whereby the tensionspring 485 tends to hold the sections 483 closely adjacent each other inthe manner illustrated in full lines in FIGURE 25.

However, a pair of rods or links 486 are respectively interconnected tothe flange portions 484 of the burner sections 483 and pass through aneyelet 487 interconnected to a rod 488 interconnected to a movable wall489 of a pneumatic bellows construction 490. The other ends of the rod486 are respectively received in a slot 491 of a guide bar means 492.

The fixed wall 493 of the bellows 490 is interconnected to a conduit 494having a valve seat 495 therein, the conduit 494 being adapted to beinterconnected to a vacuum source 46. However, the valve seat 495 isnormally closed by a valve member 496 urged to the closed position by acompression spring 497. The valve member 496 has a valve stem 498extending therefrom which normally projects above the burner sections483 when the valve member 496 is disposed in its closed position.

Thus, when a receptacle 499 is placed on the burner sections 483, andthe receptacle 499 extends outwardly beyond the sections 483, the bottomof the receptacle 499 pushes downwardly on the stern 498 and causes thevalve member 496 to move to an open position whereby the vacuum source46 is interconnected to the bellows construction 490. As long as thevacuum 46 is interconnected to the bellows 490, the movable wall 489moves downwardly toward the fixed wall 493 whereby the linkage means 486cause the burner sections 483 to pivot outwardly relative to themanifold 482 until the stem 498 clears the receptacle 499 and moves toits closed position by means of the compression spring 497.

In this manner, the burner sections 483 are automatically adjustable toany size receptacle 499 within the limits of the pivotal movement of theburner sections 483 relative to the manifold 482.

Another top burner control means of this invention is generallyindicated by the reference numeral 500 in FIG- 26 and will be described.

As illustrated in FIGURE 26, the frame means 31 of the cooking apparatus30 is provided with a top surface 501 having a well 502 surrounded by aheat shield 503.

A slot 504 is provided in the heat shield 503 and through which a burnermeans 505 projects into the well 502, the burner means 505 concluding aburner 506 and a receptacle receiving and supporting plate 507 suitablyinterconnected together.

The burner 506 is interconnected to a negator spring 508 which tends tocounterbalance the weight of the burner means 505.

A lever 509 is pivotally mounted to the frame means 31 by a pivot pin510 whereby the end 511 of the lever 509 is pivotally interconnected tothe burner means 505 by a pivot pin 512.

The other end 513 of the lever 509 is pivotally interconnected by apivot pin 514 to a link 515 pivotally interconnected to a movable wall516 of a bellows construction 517 by a pivot pin 519.

The other end 520 of the bellows construction 417 is fixed relative tothe frame means 31. The interior of the bellows construction 517 isinterconnected to the vacuum source 46 by a conduit 521, the conduit 521having a suitable on-off valve 522 therein.

The operation of the system 500 will now be described.

A suitable pot or receptacle 523 is adapted to be disposed on the burnerplate 507 and the position of the plate 507 relative to the surface 501can be controlled by the pneumatic actuator 517. For example, should itbe desired to raise the plate 507 to the position illustrated in FIGURE26 or to a higher position, the valve 522 is opened suificiently topermit the bellows 517 to be interconnected to the vacuum source 46 andbe collapsed so as to pivot the lever 509 about the pivot point 510 toraise the burner means 505 to the desired level whereby the valve 522 isthen closed.

Thus, it can be seen that by partially evacuating the bellowsconstruction 517, the burner means 505 can be positioned in the desiredposition relative to the top surface 501 of the cooking apparatus 30.

In this manner, the adjustable burner means 505 will permit well cookingusing any depth of pan and will conserve fuel because a more uniformheat is provided to the receptacle 523 by the well means 502. Further,the burner means 505 can convert to a surface unit when required forfrying, etc.

However, when the burner means 585 is utilized in a well, the same willmaintain the top of the range clear and provide less probability ofaccidents. In addition, the burner means 505 can be utilized as part ofthe top of the range or cooking apparatus 30 to provide greater fiatwork surface therefor.

When the well 502 is utilized, it can be seen that it is easier to viewinside the receptacles 523 when the same are in their lowered position.

Referring now to FIGURES 27 and 28, the top surface 501 of the cookingapparatus 30 can be provided with pot supports 524 which are movablerelative to the surface 501 and relative to the burner means 525, eachpot support 524 including a fiat plate 526 interconnected to plate means527 by supports 528. The support plate 527 is interconnected to one end529 of a bellows construction 530 with the other end 531 of the bellowsconstruction 530 being fixed to the frame means 31 of the cookingapparatus.

The interior of the bellows 530 has a compression spring 532 thereinwhich normally tends to hold the top plates 526 flush with the topsurface 5'01 of the cooking apparatus 30 when the bellows 530 are atatmospheric conditions.

However, the interior of each bellows 530 is adapted to beinterconnected to the vacuum source 46 by a conduit means 533 having anon-off valve 534 therein, onoff valve 534 being integral with the gasvalve 534A turn on for controlling the flow of fuel to burner means 525by conduit means 525A.

Thus, when it is desired to utilize one of the top supports 524 forcooking purposes, the vacuum source 46 is interconnected to therespective bellows 530 by the valve means 534 whereby the bellows 530collapses and raises the top plate 526 in the manner illustrated inFIGURE 27 so that the same can be utilized for cooking purposes.

However, when the particular burner means 525 is not being utilized forcooking purposes, atmosphere is permitted to return to the bellowsconstruction 530 so that the top plate 526 will be flush with the topsurface 501 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 27 to provide additionalwork surface on the top of the cooking apparatus 30.

Accordingly, it can be seen that this invention provides improved meansfor pneumatically controlling various devices of a cooking apparatus orthe like. However, it is to be understood that the various features of

